How it is possible to buy a TV using someone else’s TV licence, paying for your licence and what happens if you forget to renew it before expiration.
Purchasing a television in South Africa requires that you have a valid TV licence. Owning a TV is simply not possible without paying a R265 annual fee for a TV licence. This means that every year, your TV licence needs to be actively renewed.
But what if you want to purchase a new TV and do not think you need to have your own TV licence, but can instead use someone else’s? This is possible, but it will be dependent on who the TV licence belongs to, and their relation to you.
Buying a TV with someone else’s TV licence
You may find that you do not want to get your own TV licence or that you can benefit from using someone else’s to buy your own TV.
Television is such an integral part of almost all households in South Africa, and citizens certainly enjoy watching it, but this is only possible if someone is a South African TV licence holder and ensures that every year their licence is renewed without fail.
So if you want to use another person’s TV licence, is it possible?
Can I buy a TV with someone else’s TV licence?
Purchasing a brand new TV can be exciting, especially if it is one of the latest sets to have come out. It is exciting watching TV from a new screen.
Since you need a TV licence to purchase a TV in South Africa, it is mandatory that you have one to make your purchase.
Some people looking to purchase brand new TV sets may want to know if they can possibly use someone else’s TV licence to buy themselves a TV and the answer to this question is yes and no.
It will depend on who the existing TV licence belongs to and your relation to them. Legally, you cannot use another person’s TV licence to buy a new TV, unless the licence belongs to a close family member.
Who is regarded as a close family member?
Members of a family are regarded as the people who are permanently residing with the existing licence holder and are dependent on him or her.
This member is owed a legal duty to be supported by the licence holder and will be covered by the single domestic TV licence in their name.
Persons such as non-dependent adult children earning their own keep but living with their parents, elderly parents receiving a pension or own income and living with their adult children, and boarders or lodgers living with family are separately liable for paying a TV licence for their TV’s.
Applying for a TV licence according to the government
To own your own TV set, you need to have a valid and paid up TV licence at all times. This means that you need to ensure that it is renewed and paid for annually.
You can apply for a TV licence at your nearest Post Office or at a retailer that is authorised to issue TV licences to the public.
It is important to note that when you take out a TV licence for the first time, you will have to pay the full annual fee upfront.
Paying for your licence and what happens if you forget to renew it?
When applying for a TV licence for the first time, you will be subject to paying the full annual fee of R265. A TV licence must be renewed annually before the licence expires.
Renewal payments can be spread throughout the year at R28 per month, with an additional small premium for convenience. The total cost will therefore come to R336 per year.
Should you forget to renew your licence, you will suffer a penalty of an additional 10 percent per month, up to a maximum of 100 percent annually.
Final thoughts
Purchasing a brand new TV can be exciting for any first time purchaser, but in order to abide by the law, it will be important to apply and pay for a TV licence as a requirement. Without one, you cannot purchase a TV set.
For those who are looking to use another person’s TV licence to make their purchase, this is possible only if the existing TV licence holder is a dependent family member.
Technically, this is not allowed, but in the case of residing and depending on the licence holder, it is.
